My Starting Lineup for the Q

[Dave in Green]

@I speak truth, I don't think it's really hating on Deji. Coach Dambrot said earlier this season that Deji was still a year away from being a good player. Deji has amazing physical abilities, but is taking time to develop the skills required to make those physical abilities pay dividends for the team. What everyone is worried about is that the Zips have no margin for error right now. They need the best performance from everyone on the floor to reach their goal of going to the NCAA tournament and winning games there. One mistake in the MAC tournament could be the difference between winning and losing. Deji has just not yet reached the point where he can be relied on not to make errors that his teammates would be less likely to make. Coach Dambrot understands this and will do the right thing regardless of what anyone here says.

[ZachTheZip]

Do not hate him.

Simply do not believe he belongs on the same floor with the Zips.

I think he's just not being used in a way that plays to his strengths. He should be used as a slasher, and we're asking him to alternate between running the point and muscling up combo forwards.

[skip-zip]

Since this particular topic of utilizing our roster, minus Alex, is going on both internally, and externally among our fan base, let me add a few more questions to our discussions.

1) Does it really matter who starts for this team?

2) Someone mentioned that rotating different lineups at media timeouts is a good idea. Don't we already do that anyway? Or in some cases, even more frequently?

3) It was obvious that a lot of experimentation with personnel was going on during the game last Friday. Will a full week of practice iron that out? Or, will we see frequent shuffling of different combinations of players next Friday as well?

I think we have been incredibly unfortunate with a everything that has happened with our guards over the last couple of seasons, which has culminated with a crisis situation now in 2013, at the absolute worst time. I think this may be Keith's most challenging week ever as our coach. If there was ever a time in his tenure when someone really would learn something valuable by attending a practice, this would be that week.

Let me add that after several decades of following Zips Basketball intently, I have never...EVER...seen people in the Akron community talking about us as they have been over the last few of days. Yes, I know it's because of something very negative, but if we can rise above all of this and still get an NCAA tourney bid, we have a great opportunity to gain some new followers.

[Quickzips]

Starting lineup at the Q will almost assuredly be Melo, Walsh, Harney, Tree and Zeke. Melo did nothing against Can't to deserve going back to the bench. His minutes will have to be monitored, and I'm sure the staff will be working all week with him to try to avoid the cramping that hindered him in the second half Friday, but as long as he is able to go he will get the start.

Harney won't start at PG based on inconsistency alone. He could play a few minutes here or there in a point forward type of situation, but until he starts to demonstrate some consistent effort his role isn't going to increase.

I'll echo the no more Deji sentiment. The kid just does not have it. Too many turnovers. No flow to the offense. Too many defensive breakdowns. He is the poster boy for what a lot of athletic talent with no basketball IQ does for you. Nothing. Teams at all levels of sport start to shorten their bench when it comes to postseason play, and this is one time when the Zips need to do that. We can easily play with a 9 man rotation of Melo, Walsh, Reggie, Chauncey, Harney, Kretzer, Tree, Zeke and Forsythe. Walsh, Reggie, Chauncey and Harney play PG by committee when Melo needs a break.

Biggest concern for me the last couple of weeks hasn't actually been the 3 point shooting, it has been the fact that we're getting beat in the transition game so much. Teams have figured out that the Zips crash the glass hard and, if you can get to the rebound, you have a lot of chances for easy run-outs. I would actually like to see us get one or two of our wings back to defend as soon as the shot go up as opposed to sending the PG back to try to defend 3 on 1 fast breaks. On the flip side, we have all but abandoned the transition game ourselves. Too much walking the ball up the court. Even when we had Alex. I would love to see us pick the tempo back up at the Q.

[The Hip Zip]

Walsh at the PG, does not have enough quickness

None of them are exactly Seattle Slew.

[Gcc]

Put the best 5 players on the floor to start the game! Getting behind by 15 every game is getting OLD. If having a true point guard on the floor doesnt help you then play a hybrid lineup on the floor kind of like the Miami Heat. Gotta keep Kretzer and McAdams on the floor so the opponent knows there is an outside threat. If not they just pack in on the Big Men and double team. Have to keep shooters and threats on the floor not warm bodies. Melo and Deji are not scoring threats. Mix in some match up zone so you are not man to man and Cooper doesn't have Deji and Melo on skates all night! We have enough players with ball handling skills to get the ball up court. Its not like we will be facing a full court press all night!

Work inside out! Feed the Big Men! They are hungry...And make adjustments as necessary.

LETS GO ZIPS!!!! We can do it. We may not get there the way we thought but we can still get there!

[UAZip0510]

I agree you need a legitimate outside threat out there at all times.

C-Zeke

PF-Treadwell

SF-Harney

SG-Walsh

PG-McAdams

OR

C-Zeke

PF-Treadwell

SF-McAdams

SG-Walsh

PG-Betancourt

OR

C-Zeke

PF-Treadwell

SF-Kretzer

SG-Walsh

PG-Betancourt

With how much we work the ball inside, we need more than just Walsh as an outside threat, especially with him at less than 100%.

I like the

C-Zeke

PF-Treadwell

SF-Harney

SG-Walsh

PG-McAdams

I'd shorten the bench to Forsythe, Kretzer, Gilliam, Betancourt. I like Deji, but he's not ready for primetime. Between McAdams, Walsh, and Betancourt, we'll have someone who can bring the ball up.

[johnnyzip84]

UAZip0510, I think you are spot on

We've all been focusing much of the discussion on offense, and understandably so given Alex's role all year.

But I'm really curious to see whether KD might try to take advantage of the increased size and speed available on DEFENSE with the lineups UAZip0510 has summarized. Certainly the man-to-man should be more effective, but the extended zone and full/half court traps should also be better.

The Zips stumbled through their "shock moment" in the 1st half of the last game. The next opponent won't have that going for them. I expect a far more composed team in Cleveland.

[Quickzips]

Hadn't really thought of the idea of Harney moving to the bench, but I kind of like it. Harney, when he isn't engaged, is a weak link on defense. Defense has been letting us down of late. Move him to the bench and more a guy like Kretzer into the starting lineup who gives max effort on both ends of the floor all night. Then Harney comes in off the bench to be more of an offensive sparkplug. Only problem is it is awful late in the game to start taking big swings at your rotation, but we're kind of forced into making some anyways with the Alex situation.

I guess the point is, we aren't going to go as far as we once thought we could simply by moving Melo into the starting lineup and trying to do everything else the same. Why not take a big swing at it? Maybe you catch lightning in a bottle and get that miracle Disney movie finish. If it doesn't work out, you can at least say you went down fighting.

Starting lineup:

PG Betancourt

SG Walsh

SF Kretzer

PF Treadwell

C Marshall

Rotation

SG McAdams

SF Gilliam

SF/PF Harney

C Forsythe

I could live with that.

[akronzips71]

Hadn't really thought of the idea of Harney moving to the bench, but I kind of like it. Harney, when he isn't engaged, is a weak link on defense. Defense has been letting us down of late. Move him to the bench and more a guy like Kretzer into the starting lineup who gives max effort on both ends of the floor all night. Then Harney comes in off the bench to be more of an offensive sparkplug. Only problem is it is awful late in the game to start taking big swings at your rotation, but we're kind of forced into making some anyways with the Alex situation.

I guess the point is, we aren't going to go as far as we once thought we could simply by moving Melo into the starting lineup and trying to do everything else the same. Why not take a big swing at it? Maybe you catch lightning in a bottle and get that miracle Disney movie finish. If it doesn't work out, you can at least say you went down fighting.

Starting lineup:

PG Betancourt

SG Walsh

SF Kretzer

PF Treadwell

C Marshall

Rotation

SG McAdams

SF Gilliam

SF/PF Harney

C Forsythe

I could live with that.

That makes no sense. Betancourt had to be carried off Friday night and you start him and do not have a rotation relief for him.

[Quickzips]

That makes no sense. Betancourt had to be carried off Friday night and you start him and do not have a rotation relief for him.

We don't have rotation relief for him one way or another. Name one other PG on this roster? Go ahead. I dare you.

I'm not expecting Melo to play 40 minutes. Not even 30. 25 would be best case scenario with Walsh, McAdams, Harney and Gilliam sharing the remainder. I've been on record these threads multiple times stating that. The positions I have listed are simply the positions those players traditionally play.

[zippyfan34]

I really liked how Harney handled the ball and O for the couple minutes in the second half before he fouled out.

PG - Harney

SG - Walsh

SF - Gilliam

PF - Treadwell

C - Zeke

I also think Carmelo played well but Can't just played off and doubled the post when he was in there due to a lack of shooting threat. I still think Carmelo should play 20 minutes+ but I like him coming off the bench and bringing the defensive intensity.

I guess I should have clarified this will be the lineup used at the end of game in crunch time .

[Let'sGoZips94]

I liked the lineups tonight against Can't. However, I think Dambrot needs to consider something a little bit different that I don't think has been mentioned in this thread yet. I would like to see this:

C - Zeke (guarding their tallest player, preferably Keely over Baltic)

PF - Forsythe (guarding their other big which will probably be Baltic)

SF - Tree (guarding either Smith, Johnson, Hall, or even Offutt)

SG - Walsh/Kretzer/McAdams/Gilliam (guarding Kellogg, Offutt, or Taylor)

PG - Harney (guarding Cooper if he is on the floor) or Melo (guarding either Taylor or Kellogg)

I would like to see how Forsythe does with Zeke and Tree in the paint with him. Plus, I wonder if that amount of height in the game would give OU problems. Their guards are what make them go, and if you throw guys that are a couple inches taller on them, would it shut OU's offense down? I don't know. Just a thought I had that would be something different to throw at OU because I think it is going to take everything we have to beat them this time around.

[akronzips71]

I liked the lineups tonight against Can't. However, I think Dambrot needs to consider something a little bit different that I don't think has been mentioned in this thread yet. I would like to see this:

C - Zeke (guarding their tallest player, preferably Keely over Baltic)

PF - Forsythe (guarding their other big which will probably be Baltic)

SF - Tree (guarding either Smith, Johnson, Hall, or even Offutt)

SG - Walsh/Kretzer/McAdams/Gilliam (guarding Kellogg, Offutt, or Taylor)

PG - Harney (guarding Cooper if he is on the floor) or Melo (guarding either Taylor or Kellogg)

I would like to see how Forsythe does with Zeke and Tree in the paint with him. Plus, I wonder if that amount of height in the game would give OU problems. Their guards are what make them go, and if you throw guys that are a couple inches taller on them, would it shut OU's offense down? I don't know. Just a thought I had that would be something different to throw at OU because I think it is going to take everything we have to beat them this time around.

We beat them twice this year, I think KD knows what to do.

[ZachTheZip]

Forsythe plays best when both he and Zeke are on the court. Just something to consider.

[LZIp]

bump for us who wanted Harney to play the point.

Go Zips!

[The Hip Zip]

I'm sure it will surprise nobody that I would start Chauncy and bring Harney off the bench. Nick just seemed to be a better player in that role. Chauncy's jumper has not been going in sohe can best be used by spreading the floor, allowing him to drive the ball to the hole or kicking it out. Same with Nick as well. The couple of times that #23 drove the last two games some good things resulted.

Who was the mastermind that suggested this ? Oh yeah, I almost forgot while secretly coaching the Zips from my Lazy Boy and section

[The Hip Zip]

bump for us who wanted Harney to play the point.

Go Zips!

That was a great call. Not sure he's up for the task against a ball hawking DJ tonight though. He did a great job and Bentencourt was pretty solid too but we must be very, very careful bringing it up the floor with Coop in our shorts.

[Captain Kangaroo]

Forsythe plays best when both he and Zeke are on the court. Just something to consider.

Forsythe has not been nothing but a liability for several weeks. Zero energy. He needs to pick it up big time. His D has been awful, and his offense - predictable. If he can't give us 8 decent minutes off the bench, he hurts us.

And, if Betancourt doesn't have the confidence to hit wide open layups...or to even take the shot...we are in trouble. He needs to keep the defense honest when he penetrates, and take some shots. I don't like a point guard who lacks confidence.

Nice job by Harney subbing at the point.

McAdams is our best remaining 3 point shooter. If he's open 8 times behind the arc, he should shoot it 8 times.

Great second half, Zeke.

Tree sets a new standard of excellence with every passing game.

Hit your free throws, Zips.

Off to watch my first-ever Zips women's basketball game. Whoda' thunk it?

[Dave in Green]

Props to all those who were calling for Harney to play the point. I really thought that McAdams' experience running the point in HS would trump Harney's quickness and athleticism. But Harney proved in practice during the week than he could handle the point while playing smart and remaining under control. That's a huge accomplishment for someone with no experience running the point. Another thing I don't think has been mentioned is shot selection. Harney focused on running the offense and not looking for his own shot. He took only four shots and made all four, so he was obviously very smart in his shot selection. Coach Dambrot needs to keep challenging Harney, as he seems to respond well to new challenges.

Melo played exactly 20 minutes last night, and was able to comfortably handle that from a physical standpoint. Harney played 25 minutes, which is more than his average. I thought he looked a little tired at the end, which may have contributed to his missed free throws that were falling short. The fact that Melo and Harney played a total of 45 minutes means that Harney also played 5 minutes at forward while Melo was running the point. It has to be a big stress on Harney playing a new position. I'd like to see him not put in minutes at forward and play closer to 20 than 25 minutes tonight exclusively at the point to make sure he's fresher at the end of the game. Kretzer only played 20 minutes last night, and I think he could take on the extra 5 minutes at forward that Harney played last night.

[Zipgrad01]

Props to all those who were calling for Harney to play the point. I really thought that McAdams' experience running the point in HS would trump Harney's quickness and athleticism. But Harney proved in practice during the week than he could handle the point while playing smart and remaining under control. That's a huge accomplishment for someone with no experience running the point. Another thing I don't think has been mentioned is shot selection. Harney focused on running the offense and not looking for his own shot. He took only four shots and made all four, so he was obviously very smart in his shot selection. Coach Dambrot needs to keep challenging Harney, as he seems to respond well to new challenges.

Melo played exactly 20 minutes last night, and was able to comfortably handle that from a physical standpoint. Harney played 25 minutes, which is more than his average. I thought he looked a little tired at the end, which may have contributed to his missed free throws that were falling short. The fact that Melo and Harney played a total of 45 minutes means that Harney also played 5 minutes at forward while Melo was running the point. It has to be a big stress on Harney playing a new position. I'd like to see him not put in minutes at forward and play closer to 20 than 25 minutes tonight exclusively at the point to make sure he's fresher at the end of the game. Kretzer only played 20 minutes last night, and I think he could take on the extra 5 minutes at forward that Harney played last night.

If Diggs cant come back next year, Dambrot may want to look at converting Harney to the full time point guard for the next 2 years. I know we have Evans coming in next year, but MAC schools would never be able to match up with an athletic 6'8 point guard. That is a complete game changer.